News

ROME -- The Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Josette Sheeran, will arrive in the Philippines on Wednesday, 21 October, to witness at first hand the huge impact of the catastrophic floods that have affected more than 7 million people.

During the three-day visit, Sheeran will travel with President Gloria Arroyo, and WFP National Ambassador, KC Concepcion, to some of the worst-affected areas, and see how food assistance is being provided to families whose homes have been destroyed, or made uninhabitable by the flooding.

“WFP has a long history of providing food for the hungry in the Philippines, and when the floods hit people knew they could rely on our resources and expertise to get them food when they needed it,” Sheeran said, adding that the agency would work closely with the government to ensure that food assistance is provided to all who need it in the coming weeks.

As well as visiting the flood-affected areas, Sheeran will meet government officials, WFP staff, and representatives of non-government and civil society groups that have all been involved in the flood relief effort.

WFP, which returned to the Philippines in 2006, also supports the government-led response for relief and recovery, contributing to a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Mindanao by addressing the food security needs of vulnerable people in conflict-affected areas.